State chemist unable to check for rat poison

A dog owner is raising questions over the test capabilities at the state’s chemistry labs, following a case where one of his employees might have also been affected by rat poison.

Last month, the chief of police received a letter from a dog owner in Lakatamia, according to daily Phileleftheros, in which the man raised the issue of rat poison in his area in Lakatamia.

In September, the dog owner lost three dogs in poisoning death incidents. Prior to his first dog collapsing, according to his letter, he had seen many cats, crows, rats, and pigeons dead near his property.

But beyond losing three of his five dogs, the man’s employee was also said to have been affected by rat poison. According to Phileleftheros, the female worker is suffering from swollen lymph nodes, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting.

The state chemist is not properly structured to run lab tests involving rat poison, according to the dog owner. The lab appeared to confirm the deficiency, with officials saying rat poison was rarely used as it had been about 15 years since the last time they received a sample.

If necessary, the state could run preliminary checks or send a uniformed police officer abroad with a sample, officials were quoted as saying, so that it can be tested in a facility that is properly equipped but also under an approved scientific programme that would hold as evidence in a court of law.

Animal poisoning has been rampant throughout Cypriot society, with many incidents believed to be going unreported despite public outcry.